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June 20, 2013
SUMMER SLABS OVERLOOKED...ANGLERS MISSING OUT
No dogwoods are blooming. Spring fever has come and gone. Spawning
phases are history too.
For those reasons and more the bulk of crappie fishermen overlook this
late spring and early summer period when consistent stringers of can be
taken in midrange depths. Lake levels are stable and weather patterns
are predictable as the stubborn cold fronts and gale winds are gone.
Kentucky Lake crappie have been right on time throughout most of June,
occupying brushpiles and stakebeds in midrange depths of 12 to 15 feet.
Vertical presentations of jigs tipped with minnows or Berkley Power Bait
crappie nibbles have paid big dividends lately yet not many anglers are
taking advantage of the opportunities.
Spring officially loses its grip this week and summer is slated to
arrive Friday afternoon. While a few warm days are the norm this time of
year, wise are the fishermen who rise and shine early, beating the heat
when light winds and cloud cover team up for nice fishing conditions in
the first half of the day.
Each year the crappie stage in these midrange structures before moving
out to deeper water once the real summer doldrums arrive. For several
weeks the fishing is great as the crappie are staying put and really
holding next to cover where anglers can depend on their whereabouts.
It’s not unusual to catch and release a lot of fish as there is often a
mixture of year classes using the same spots but there are ample numbers
exceeding the 10-inch minimum length limit. And these summer crappie
have an attitude and an appetite.
Popular jig colors as of late have ranged from black/chartreuse to
pink/chartreuse, white/blue with sparkles, black/red and motor oil with
glitter just to name a few. Don’t let this good crappie time pass you
by.
As to bass action some nice stringers are being caught on a regular
basis by anglers working main lake ledges. There has been a little
current in the Tennessee River and that has helped ledge fishing.
Working big crankbaits has been paying off as have Texas and Carolina
rigged worms and craws. Some guys are hopping jig and craw combos too.
Winning tournament stringers are weighing in the 20 to 21 pound range
lately so good fish are still coming in.
Popular crankbait choices have been Strike King’s XD series in
chartreuse/blue, sexy shad, and gizzard shad colors. Bill Norman, Poe’s,
and big Bandits have worked well too.
Ledge fishing should hold up well for the next few weeks as summer
patterns will keep some of the bigger fish schooling at times near deep
water. The shallow shoreline and island rims are not out of the picture
as small schools of pin minnows are now beginning to relate to shallow
weeds, blowdowns and other shallow grassbeds and there are always some
bass chasing bait in the shallows.
Mayfly hatches began last week and should increase in frequency in the
weeks ahead. Bass and bluegill always seem to hold near the trees where
flies fall to the lake surface as this natural forage is attractive.
Watch for a few bluegill to hold around islands and bridge piers as the
hatches continues. Catfish have been hitting good too as they know the
mayfly larva is hatching and providing an instant food source washed by
the current.
Some hefty stringers of channel cats were taken this week around the
piers at Paris Landing bridge as current has stimulated the bite.
Nightcrawlers have been the bait of choice.
Lake levels have stayed around the normal summer pool mark this week.
Elevation projected for the weekend at Kentucky Dam will be 359.1.
Upstream at New Johnsonville TVA predicts an elevation of 359.2.
Some heavy thunderstorms pushed through the area earlier this week and
dropped a lot of rain in places but no significant changes in lake
levels are expected. There is some stained water pushing through on the
main Tennessee River but portions of Big Sandy remain clear in the Paris
Landing area.
Surface temperatures this week have been in the 80 to 83 degree range.
As summer officially begins anglers are starting off the new season with
nice catches of crappie, bass, and catfish.
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams is one of the nation's best known Crappie Fishermen
and a full time resident of Paris, Tennessee. Steve is also a
professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area.
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